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Gloucestershire Cricket enters United Nations Race to Zero

3 November 2021

Gloucestershire Cricket has joined a world sport agreement to reach Net Zero emissions by 2040.

The amibitious greenhouse gas reduction target was anounced by the United Nation's Sports for Climate Action Framework (S4CA) earlier today, and includes an additional target to reduce emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 at the latest.

Aside from The Shire, the climate change pledge has also been made by a number of major organisations in the world of sport, including the International Olympic Committee, FIFA, Athletics Kenya, BBC Sport, the Premier League, Formula E and Munster Rugby. The progressive target represents concrete actions that will be taken to implement 2030 goals, and all signators will be required to report on overall progress of their promises on an annual bases.

By committing to reaching Net Zero by 2040, the Club has reaffirmed its sustainability goals and has joined the urgent mission to tackle climate change head-on. The S4CA agreement aims to gather global sports organisations, teams, athletes, and fans in a concerted effort to set the pace for climate action, as welll as raise awareness of the urgency required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Will Brown, Chief Executive of Gloucestershire Cricket, said: 

“In early 2020 we became the first cricket signatory in the United Kingdom to join the United Nations Sports for Climate Action framework and we are committed to being the most environmentally sustainable and considerate professional cricket club in the World. We all see and experience climate change on a daily basis and all sports have a responsibility to not only adopt and deliver on net zero initiatives but to use their profile and status to educate and innovate.

"We are particularly delighted to have been given the opportunity today to enter Race to Zero to join with and learn from others keen to make firm commitments. As currently the only global cricket entrant to RacetoZero we are hugely aware of and excited by what we believe our sport can achieve. We look forward to being joined on our journey by cricket clubs across the world in delivering these crucial targets.”

The two main objectives of the Sports for Climate Action Framework are to achieve a clear trajectory for the global sports community to combat climate change and to use sport as a unifying tool to drive climate awareness and action among global citizens.

As well as committing to reducing emissions, Gloucestershire Cricket and its fellow Sports for Climate Action signatories have also entered the Race to Zero, a coalition of leading net zero initiatives, representing 733 cities, 31 regions, 3,067 businesses, 173 of the biggest investors, and 622 higher education Institutions.

Patricia Espinosa, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, added: “Four years since we launched the sport for climate action framework, more than 280 sports organisations have committed to the overarching objectives of aligning sport with the goals of the Paris Agreement. 

“The sector eagerly took up the challenge, but also told us that they want to do more and to do it faster. These organisations are now being challenged to reduce emissions 50 per cent by 2030 at the latest and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040."

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